Created in partnership with Colleen Hungerford, Maverick Group
LA girl packs up everything, says goodbye to the life she’s known, and moves to the Midwest, all in the name of a fresh start. If this sounds too close to the synopsis of the next hot romcom you’re down to stream, you might be right. Or, you might be learning just how Colleen Hungerford came to call Carmel, In. home sweet home. Today, she’s reveling in the life she’s built in Indiana and helping others fall in love with their new communities just like she did.
LA Had It All, Until It Didn’t
“I had my first job as soon as I could sit up,” Colleen recalls. “I went to work with my parents when I was five days old. Later, I helped remove stickers from keychains for their business.”
As a first-generation college graduate with no generational wealth on the horizon, Colleen wasn’t a stranger to working hard. So when she returned to LA after college at Indiana University, she dove right in. She owned and operated a construction and design firm, handling everything from building code inspections, to conceptualizing dream kitchens, and reimagining a layout in advance of a new addition. Her high-stress, high-volume workload was her master class in real estate, effectively giving her x-ray vision into potential construction woes and must-explore opportunities.
“We were busy during the pandemic,” Colleen shares. But the high demand of home renovations and promise of lucrative returns couldn’t make up for the stark reality of the LA market’s demands: she was missing more at home than she was willing to accept.
A Nationwide Search
It wasn’t the work that was the problem – it was the tradeoff. She was working too much, missing irreplaceable time and experiences with her husband and their children. Even when she had her nine-month-old strapped into the Baby Bjorn while supervising an inspection, it wasn’t the same as quality, focused time together.
Luckily, the real estate market odds were ever in the Hungerfords’ favor. They sold their LA home for twice what they paid for it and looked, as Colleen puts it, “everywhere Californians look,” for their new home.
Nashville, Tenn. earned the top spot, its temperate climate more suitable to those used to the SoCal sunshine, plus the range of homes, entertainment, and appreciating housing market signaled a potential match. However, Colleen’s college stint in Bloomington gave her a best friend who still called the Hoosier state home. Before long, the Hungerfords packed up everything they owned into a POD and loaded into an RV for a nine-day, cross-country trip with three kids, a dog, and a bunny.
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
“Life here is easy…it’s easily livable,” Colleen’s smile melting into her words. “The quality of life, it’s just so much better here. And we fell in love with the Orchard School.”
Great houses can be found almost everywhere, but what Colleen found was a community that welcomed her family and suited her lifestyle shift. The relief that came with finding her home, her community, was enough to inspire Colleen to want to ensure others could feel that same way, that they were welcomed, prepared for, and celebrated.
True hospitality can be hard to come by, but when you experience it at its best, it’s in the spirit of Philoxenia – the Greek word for it, meaning “friend to the stranger.” As Colleen tells it, the ancient Greeks were expectant that a God or Goddess could arrive at any time, so they were to be ready to welcome their surprise visitor, offering food, shelter, and hospitality.
That’s how Colleen wants her clients to feel — anticipated, prepared for, and welcomed. Philoxenia is one of the Maverick Group’s core values and Colleen’s way of life. Think about life’s most stressful yet important moments – getting married, welcoming a child, starting a new job, and, of course, buying a new home. They’re all representative of major life changes, full of excitement, uncertainty, and novelty. And if you go it alone, it’s hard to stay present in the moment, truly appreciating the experience. However, with a partner, a confidant, and a guide, you can achieve more, enjoy more, and thrive more.
“Recently, we hosted a client relocating from Dallas. They’d never been here, so we put together a welcome basket for them to receive at their hotel,” shares Colleen. We put together an entertainment itinerary, restaurant recommendations, and a list of area schools – including contact information for admissions appointments.”
Philoxenia In Real Life
Maverick Group’s concierge-level service doesn’t extrapolate to a certain price point, it’s about the experience of caring for their clients, especially when they’re already undergoing a major life change. Although the team’s average sales price is in the $800s, there’s no minimum entry point for clients to have luxury service.
“We want people to walk away feeling seen, hugged even. Like we really care, because we do,” expresses Colleen. “These are their homes, where they bring their babies home, where they grow together. It’s a very emotional experience and we want to support our clients throughout the whole process.”
While the core of Maverick Group’s magic is their heart, it’s their precise and efficient way of operating the machine that drives the real estate business. Colleen’s background in construction management takes center stage, her coordination capabilities and a healthy obsession with efficiency are key to how she’s operating her business while affording a sustainable work life for her team.
“We’re taking a fresh approach to the real estate business,” shares Colleen. “I purposely didn’t name my group after myself. I want my team to be able to market and brand themselves, with the support of Maverick Group. They can build a wonderful, efficient, sustainable business and enjoy a good quality of life.”
She’s worked with an efficient systems coach, Susie Adamson, to create her operations processes, ensuring that her clients’ time is respected and that her team’s time is valued, too. Their collaborative work style, team-focused environment, and fun spirit make her team happier and, in turn, more productive.
“Family is very important to me, so creating an environment for realtors where we can set boundaries and have a home life is everything. It’s a tough job, but you don’t have to pretend that you have a family; I’m good at what I do because I have a family. I’m a mom. I can pivot. I can make time. And I can make things happen, for myself, my team, and my clients.”
Natalie Derrickson is a writer and communications expert based in Indianapolis.
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